Hi Blog. Got this message from a friend, “Shinrin Woods”, who reads Portuguese (I don’t, sorry). His translation of the points of an article (which you can find in its entirety at the bottom of the page):

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Hi Debito,

The front page of weekly Portuguese-Language newspaper “Jornal Tudo Bem (EDITION 793 This week)” points out to a quite disturbing issue facing many foreigners who want to collect retirement (Aposentadoria) benefits in Japan… The point is (below)

The nationality doesn’t matter if you live in Japan. I.e. If you have paid for 25 + years, you will be entitled to kokumin nenkin regardless of nationality. If not, you will not be entitled, this is same for Japanese.

But there are complicated rules on how to count 25 years.

Plus there have been many changes to the laws and NJ couldn’t join the scheme in the past. I don’t know if the article is talking about this.

Also, if you are in Japan and reach 60 but haven’t paid for 25, you can keep paying the premium (nini kanyu) until you reach 70. This way you will be entitled to receive pension.

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Thanks Akira. I hope we can get a final clarification on this somehow–one would expect the media would double-check their data before putting something on the front page… Arudou Debito

As I know, there should be 25 years payment and you should be 65 years old. but there are secrets which unfortunately are kept away from foreigners.
First, after finding job in Japan after graduation, immediately include your student time based on social pension scheme and pay the permuim, so you will add several years to your payment record .
Second, even if you leave japan and you have PR continue to pay your pension or if there is a pension treaty between next country and Japan
, may be it is possible to continue to pay to japan pension scheme, replace of your ocuntry.
Third one, I don’t think many of us will receive anything after 2020~ as pension.they have already 8 trillion$ public debt(Mostly related to future pension payments) for a country without any natural resource , degrading human resource. Think about another investment.

To get the full benefit, an insured must pay full 40 years (or 480 months) from age 20 to 60. If the insured pays 25 years (or 300 months) or more but less than 40 years, the benefit is discounted proportionally. This rule applies to both Japanese and non-Japanese.

If the insured pays less than 25 years, he cannot collect annual pension. This rule also applies to both Japanese and non-Japanese.

If the insured is a non-Japanese and leaves Japan before paying 25 years, he can collect “Lump-sum Withdrawal Payments”, although the amount is small. This benefit is only applicable to non-Japanese.
See the section “Lump-sum Withdrawal Payments (Exclusively for Non-Japanese Citizens)” in the above page.

These are the rules about Kokumin Nenkin. For those who are covered by Kousei Nenkin, 1 year contribution is enough to collect benefit.

As a foreigner, the pension system really gets my goat. I am forced to pay into it (and my company has to pay the same amount; money that could be going straight to me), but I only get three years contributions back if I leave. It’s like the government specifically chose that limit — “If you stay longer than three years, you’re not really welcome, so we’ll just take your money instead”.

I found the 25-year rule is not a problem for naturalized citizens and permanent residents.http://www.sia.go.jp/infom/text/kokunen07.pdf
On page 60, “日本に帰化した者、永住許可を受けた者などの海外在住期間（20歳～59歳）” “the period outside Japan for naturalized citizens and permanent residents between age 20 and 59” is “合算対象期間” “countable period” toward 25 year rule. The years outside Japan before naturalization or obtaining permanent residency status are automatically counted toward 25-year rule. But the period is not reflected in the amount of annuity benefit, because no actual payment is done during the period.

Reform Act of National Pension Act on 1985 May 1.
Annex Article 8 Paragraph 5.
The period defined by following items shall be added to “insured period” with regard to article 10 paragraph 1 of National Pension Act and to “countable period” with regard to annex article 9 paragraph 1 of the same act.
Item 10.
For a person who obtained Japanese citizenship per Nationality Act after 1961 May 1 (provided he obtained it between age 20 to 64), or a person stipulated by Government Ordinance, the period when he had residence in Japan, provided he was not an insured because article 7 paragraph 1 of National Pension Act before its reform by Law number 86 in 1981 was not applicable to him, provided the period is between his 20 years old and 60 years old of age, and further provided the period excludes the periods stipulated by paragraph 2, and items 4-2, 5, 7 and 7-2.

Item 11.
For such a person defined in the previous item, the period he did not have residence in Japan, provided the period is between his 20 years old and 60 years old of age, provided the period is before he obtained Japanese citizenship, or before such date determined by Government Ordinance if Government Ordinance is applicable to him and further provided the period excludes the periods stipulated by paragraph 2, and items 4-2, 5, 7 and 7-2.

“A person stipulated by Government Ordinance” is a permanent resident. See 国民年金法等の一部を改正する法律の施行に伴う経過措置に関する政令（昭和六十一年三月二十八日政令第五十四号）第十二条第二号.

Amir, have you made retroactive contributions for your preiod as a student? How are they calculated (if you have no income)? I’d like to do this as I was here as a student for half a year, and then worked for a company for one year, without participating in the plan. Since I’ll need to collect this in my old age.

And does anyone know which countries now have bilateral pension treaties with Japan? My company tells me that the US now does, so I don’t have to worry about losing all my contributions if I move back there.

“And does anyone know which countries now have bilateral pension treaties with Japan? My company tells me that the US now does, so I don’t have to worry about losing all my contributions if I move back there.
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Germany, U.K., Korea, U.S., Belgium, France, Canada, Australia, Netherland, and Check.

I am sorry, Debito.
That was a link to an English language page titled “International Social Security Agreement” by Japan’s Social Insurance Agency which explains the details of international social security agreements between Japan and other countries.
I thought the page would help answer the questions raised by Mark.

I don’t know why people want to bet on the limping horse. There wont be social security system within a decade, they have industrial power and money of export else these things will have been afloat long time a go. Rationally they will accept any retroactive payment for unpaid premium even if it is related to couple of years ago, but my opinion is, don’t pay.
And, if you had to pay several years to the system (like my self), totalizing plan is a good deal. You can transfer your payment history to the next country and if you can make a choice, select a country with open culture, empty land, good natrual resources. If the next country doesn’t have totalizing treaty, continue some years with Japan pension plan so hopefully they sign the treaty.

Just to correct my post. I heard from one of my friends that the pension treaty just cover national of treaty countries.It seems a foreigner (third party)are excluded from using these treaties. May be somebody should clarify the issue.